I am a Type A and my husband is a Type O. We have switched to this diet about 4 weeks ago, following it as best we can. I am doing great! However, my husband is suffering from serious constipation even though his diet hasn't changed as much as mine...I turned vegetarian but he simply had to avoid wheat and diary, as you would know. He was used to eating a lot of fruit and veggies, but we are now focusing on the recommended highly beneficial fruit and veggies, and avoiding the ones type O's should. He also drinks a lot of water throughout the day and night and he has cut his coffee intake down to one cup a day, without milk. I pretty much can't understand the reason for his constipation...

Please advise us on what we should do about it. He is really suffering quite a bit!

Hi Sorry to hear you man is having trouble Has he tried anything like flax or chia seeds? What exactly is he eating for fibre & how much water is he drinking? He can have lots of vegs which should take care of things

One of the best threads on this is forum is "skinny stools" Click the main forum page and stroll down. you'll find it

As an O I had the same problem. I still have to watch what I'm doing. Chia seeds seem to work best for me. Lola advice was to sip your water. That made a big difference. I start my day off with water and end it with as well, even knowing I might have to get up once during the night it worth it. Exercise is also a key. The beginning of the week is my most likely time. I realize that would be after the weekend when I don't do my workout. O's need to move in order to move.

Is he getting enough fat in his diet? That can help lubricate the bowels and "move things along." Is he getting enough fluids? Enough fiber? Even if he's overall getting enough water, if he's getting more fiber than he needs, he might not have enough water to process the fiber he's eating- if he thinks this might be the case, he might want to increase the fluids further or cut back a bit on the fiber.

He might be low on magnesium. Total magnesium doesn't matter as much as the cal/mag ratio. If the only magnesium he's getting is part of a calcium supplement, then he might need additional magnesium. Alternatively, if he just started taking calcium supps when he cut out the milk, he may need to switch to one that includes magnesium.

You mentioned him cutting back on coffee. Is he drinking yerba mate and/or green tea, or is he overall reducing caffeine intake? If he's used to chemical stimulants to "go", and he's cut back on total caffeine intake, that could be a temporary cause of constipation. If this is the case, I'd have him increase magnesium and/or vitamin C to "restart" his bowels, rather than turning to more stimulants.

For quick help.. get some disposable gloves and let him insert a finger to evactuate the anus.. a good habit.. better than straining.. (if you have non handy give him (disposable in the trash) Saran wrap.. moisten so as not do skin damage..

a warm water sitz bath to draw blood circulation to the sitting sitting area,or sitting on a nice thick towel coming from the dryer.. a sprinkle moist would not be bad..

Unless he has health and sugar issues .. then let him eat the fruit he is used to for inbetween the new fruits..

Today :

then also look fruit up on look up some instersting finds there.. not in the books..

I have started to eat prunes in the evening and that makes it easier also..

water is good but if the body does not release it then it will not help.. it seems to be on issue but the prunes seem to resolve the dryness.. worth a try.. and for now let him eat them any time..

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I am a Type A and my husband is a Type O. We have switched to this diet about 4 weeks ago, following it as best we can. I am doing great! However, my husband is suffering from serious constipation even though his diet hasn't changed as much as mine...I turned vegetarian but he simply had to avoid wheat and diary, as you would know. He was used to eating a lot of fruit and veggies, but we are now focusing on the recommended highly beneficial fruit and veggies, and avoiding the ones type O's should. He also drinks a lot of water throughout the day and night and he has cut his coffee intake down to one cup a day, without milk. I pretty much can't understand the reason for his constipation...

Please advise us on what we should do about it. He is really suffering quite a bit!

Constipation is a common effect when coffee is drastically cut back or eliminated. It tends to cause the colon to "release" the contents. When coffee is stopped, the gut has to relearn a normal rhythm. It takes a while.

All the above advice is good. And he can lie on his back and massage his lower belly.

Thank you all for the wonderful response. I am amazed each time I post a question at the fantastic advice I receive from so many people!

OK, he will up the water, continue with plenty cherries, continue the Calc&Mag and Flax supp, continue the long evening walks and maybe I can get him to gym more often. I will give him Vit C and try to get some prunes and definitely up the water (more)!

I had a terrible time recently with constipation. I was doing everything right and nothing would help. This is the only thing that helped me and I tried MANY things. I've used it a number of times and have had no ill effects at all.

If he is the really skinny type O then a little Parmesan cheese should be ok. If he is the more "padded" type I would suggest a tiny bit of whey based cheese for the enzyme and insulin reception. For whey cheese I would try farmers or ricotta. If you are not absorbing carbohydrates or using them it can make you really have some awkward side affects like bad movement.

Amounts should be kept low, like 3 servings a week.

Ginger is great for circulation.

I would go high veggies eaten at the same time as meat. Leafy greens with magnesium - as mentioned earlier - would be very advisable.